Automatic-releasing cable control for harrow



April 22, 1969 w. R. M KAY 3,439,750

AUTOMATIC-RELEASING CABLE CONTROL FOR HARROW Filed Oct. 5, 1965 Sheet 1 of 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM R- Mc KAY M MRrw- ATTORNEYS April 22, 1969 w. R. M KAY 3,439,750

' AUTOMATIC-RELEASING CABLE CONTROL FOR HARROW Filed Oct. 5, 1965 Sheet 2 of 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM R. Mc KAY FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS W. R. M KAY A ril 22, 1969 AUTOMATIC-RELEASING CABLE CONTROL FOR HARROW Filed Oct. 5. 1965 Sheet 5 of4 m QI ME A 4 wk. mh w mm m mm INVENTOR WILLIAM R. McKAY mm'Pww ATTORNEYS April 22, 1969 w. R. M KAY 3,439,750

AUTQMATIC-RELEASING CABLE CONTROL FOR HARROW Filed 001:. 5. 1965 Sheet 4 of 4 FIG. 5

FIG. 7

INVENTOR WILLIAM R.-McKAY EO'a-NKM POMQ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,439,750 AUTOMATIC-RELEASING CABLE CONTROL FOR HARROW William R. McKay, Compton, Calif., assignor to Alexander Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Mississippi Filed Oct. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 493,103 Int. Cl. A01b 21/08, 23/04 U.S. Cl. 172-581 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The mechanism controls the folding of harrow front and rear gang frames which are pivoted together at one end. A toggle, interconnects the other end of the frames and an angle bar is attached to one of the toggle bars. A latch is attached to the other toggle bar and a cable is connected to the latch so that pulling the cable in one direction unlatches the latch and also folds the frames from a divergent position to a parallel position.

in an operative, predetermined divergent position. A cable is operatively connected to the latch means and to the frames for unlatching the latch means and folding the frames from the divergent position to a substantially parallel position upon pulling the cable in one direction.

Another important objective is attained by a structural arrangement in which the angle bar is associated and movable with the rear gang frame, and the latch means is associated and movable with the front gang frame, and by the provision of a bearing means associated and movable with the rear gang frame, the cable being operatively connected to the latch means and passed about the bearing means and extending forwardly of the harrow for connection to a winch.

Yet another important object is realized by the provision of a trip lever associated and movable with the front gang frame and operatively connected to the latch means, the cable being attached to the trip lever, passed rearwardly about the bearing means and thence extended forwardly of the harrow for manipulation.

An important objective is provided by attaching the angle bar to one stabilizing bar of a toggle interconnecting the front and rear gang frame, and by mounting the latch means on the other stabilizing bar. It is advantageous to have the angle bar pivotally attached to the rear stabilizing bar of the toggle and having the latch cage pivotally mounted to the front stabilizing bar, the angle bar and latch cage being interconnected to hold the gang frames in the divergent position.

Another important objective is afforded by the provision of a latch pin selectively attachable to the angle bar in different locations, and by the provision of a recess and a cam on the latch cage, the cam engaging the latch pin upon relative movement of the angle bar and latch cage to turn the latch cage to permit entry of the pin into the recess to hold the frames in a predetermined divergent position. The latch cage is held in the latched position by a resilient means.

3,439,750 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 lCe Still another important objective is achieved by the provision of a second latch pin attachable to the angle bar, and by constructing the latch cage to include a second recess receiving the second latch pin to hold the frames in the folded parallel position.

An important objective is attained by constructing the latch cage with laterally spaced guide means between which the angle bar slidably extends and engages to hold the angle bar and latch cage in operative association during relative movement of the gang frames between the divergent and substantially parallel positions.

Another important object is to provide a cable control in this type of implement that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, highly eflicient in operation, and which is capable of use by anyone with little or no instruction.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the offset disc harrow showing the gangs in a folded, substantially parallel position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, top plan view illustrating the gangs in the expanded, divergent position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cable control mechanism;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view of the latch cage;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the angle bar, showing the connection of the adjustable latch pin, and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged, top plan view of the anchoring bracket for the spring in the cable control mechanism.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the offset disc harrow includes a front gang generally indicated at 10 and a rear gang referred to at 11. The front gang 10 includes a frame 12 adapted to carry a plurality of disc blades 13. The disc blades 13 are arranged so that the concave sides face toward the right hand end of the front gang frame 12 when looking toward the front of the harrow. The rear gang 11 includes a frame 14 including a plurality of disc blades 15 arranged so that the concave sides of such blades 15 face toward the left hand end of the rear gang frame 14.

Pivot means interconnect the left hand end of the front and rear gangs 10- and 11. In the preferred embodiment, the pivot means include a bracket 16 attached to the end of the front gang frame 12. A sleeve 17 is fixed to bracket 16 and opens rearwardly. Another bracket 20 is fixed to the end of the rear gang frame 14. A vertical pivot pin 21 is carried by bracket 20. A universal yoke 22 is attached to the pivot pin 21 and is rotatively mounted in the sleeve 17. It will be understood that this pivot connection at the left hand end of the gang frames 12 and 14 is universal in that it enables the gang frames 12 and 14 to move pivotally between the substantially parallel position of FIG. 1 and the divergent position of FIG. 2, and enables relative vertical movement of such gang frames 12 and 14 to accommodate varying ground contour.

Attached to the left hand end of the front gang frame 12 are a pair of hitch plates 23. A similar pair of hitch plates 24 are attached to the right hand end of front gang frame 12. The hitch 23 and 24 extend forwardly of the front gang frame 12. Pivotally mounted to each pair of hitch plates 23 and 24 is a substantially U-shaped hitch swivel bracket 25. Extending between and interconnecting the hitch swivel brackets 25 is a cross bar 26. The cross bar 26 is attached by bolts 27 to the hitch swivel brackets 25. As is best seen in FIG. 1, the cross bar 26 is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced holes 30.

Positioned along and attached to the cross bar 26 is a hitch bracket 31. A plurality of bolts 32 extending through selected holes 30 secure the hitch bracket 31 to the cross bar 26. The hitch bracket 31 is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced holes 33 disposed in an arcuate path. A hitch arm 34 is secured to the hitch bracket 31 by a pair of bolts 35, the angular disposition of the hitch arm 34 being predetermined by selection of a suitable bracket hole 33.

A pair of end plates 36 are secured to the hitch arm 34. Located between the end plates 36 is a pull clevis 37, the pull clevis 37 being secured by a transverse pivot pin 40.

The right hand ends of the front and rear gang frames 12 and 14 are interconnected by a toggle generally referred to by 41. The toggle 41 includes an elongate, rear stabilizing bar 42 having a bifurcated bracket 38 swivelly mounted by pin 39 on the vertical arm of a substantially T-shaped universal swivel 44. As is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the swivel 44 is rotatively mounted in a journal 43 fixed to the rear gang frame 14. Another bifurcated bracket 45 is fixed to the opposite end of the rear stabilizing bar 42.

The toggle 41 includes a front stabilizing bar 50 pivotally connected to bracket 45 by pivot pin 46. The opposite end of the front stabilizing bar '50 is pivotally connected to a bracket 51 by vertical pin 52, the bracket 51 being attached to the rear side of the front gang frame 12.

In the preferred embodiment, the toggle 41 breaks toward the left hand side of the harrow as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e., the pivot connection 45-46 moves toward the left hand ends of the gang frames 12 and 14 as the frames move from the divergent position shown in FIG. 2 to the folded, substantially parallel position shown in FIG. 1. The rear and front stabilizing bars 42 and 50 are provided with oppositely facing bumpers 47 and 53 respectively that abut when the toggle 41 is folded to determine the substantially parallel position of the front and rear gang frames 12 and 14, as is shown FIG. 1.

Pivotally mounted by pin 55 to the rear stabilizing bar 42 is an angle-selecting bar 54, the angle bar 54 extending forwardly over and across the front stabilizing bar 50. Attached to one end of angle bar 54 near the pivot pin 55 is an upstanding latch pin 56. Another adjustable latch pin 57 is selectively attached to the front end of angle bar 54 by placement in any one of a plurality of conforming pin holes 58 formed in and along the angle bar 54. It will be understood that the angle bar 54 is associated and movable with the rear gang frame 14.

A cooperating latch cage 60, constituting a latch mean s, is associated and movable with the front gang frame 12. More particularly, the latch cage 60 includes a pair of vertically spaced latch plates 61 and 62 interconnected by a pair of laterally spaced guide pins 63 and 64 constituting guide means. The latch cage 60 is pivotally mounted to' the front stabilizing bar 50 by a depending pivot pin 65 attached to the lower latch plate 62.

It will be understood that the angle bar 54 extends slidably through the latch cage 60. Specifically, the angle bar 54 extends between the latch plates 61 and 62 and between the guide pins 63 and 64 to hold the angle bar 54 and latch cage 60 in operative association.

The front side of the latch cage 60 is provided with a hook that is formed by recesses 66 in latch plates 61 and 62. The latch recesses 66 are located on the front side of the latch pivot pin 65 and open toward the left hand side of the harrow. The latch plates 61 and 62 are provided with inclined cams 67 leading to the recesses 66.

Upon expansion of the gang frames 12 and 14 to the divergent position, the cams 67 of the latch cage 60 will engage the latch pin 57 and rotate the cage 60 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2) to allow entry of the latch pin 57 into the recesses 66. Resilient means, later described in detail, tends to urge the latch cage 60 in a counterclockwise direction, and hence causes the latch cage 60 to snap about the latch pin 57 to lock the frames 12 and 14 in the divergent position. The extent of divergency can be predetermined by positioning the latch pin 57 in a selected pin hole 58.

The latch cage 60 is provided with another hook at its rear side. This hook is formed by recesses 70 in plates 61 and 62 which are located at the rear side of pivot pin 65 and open toward the right hand side of the harrow. The latch plates 61 and 62 are provided with cams 71 leading to the recesses 70.

When the gang frames 12 and 14 are in the folded, parallel position shown in FIG. 1, the latch pin 56 enters the recesses 70. The resilient means tends 'to urge the latch cage 60 in the counterclockwise direction, locking the latch cage 60 to latch pin 56 and locking the gang frames 12 and 14 in the parallel position.

The upper latch plate 61 is provided with a handle 72 extending laterally so that it can be gripped and manipulated manually to rotate the latch cage 60 to unlatch the cage 60 from the latch pin 56. Of course, a length of cord can be attached to the handle 72 and pulled from a forward position, as for example, from the tractor seat, to rotate the latch cage 60 and release the latch pin 56.

Control means is provided to release the latch cage 60 from the latch pin 57 and to cause a folding of the gang frames 12 and 14 from the divergent position of FIG. 2 to the folded, parallel position of FIG. 1. This control means is operatively connected to the latch cage 60 and is operatively connected to the gang frames 12 and 14.

The control means includes a trip lever 73 associated and movable with the front gang frame 12. More particularly, the trip lever 73 is pivotally mounted by pivot pin 74 to the front stabilizing bar 50. The trip lever 73 extends across the front stabilizing bar 50 and is located between the latch cage 60 and the front pivot connection 52 of the front stabilizing bar 50. The rear end of trip lever 73 is provided with a strap eye 75. One end of link 76 is pivotally connected to the front end of trip lever 73 by pivot pin 77. The opposite end of link 76 is pivotally connected to latch plate extension 80 by pivot pin 81. With this bell crank mechanism, it will be understood that clockwise rotation (FIG. 2) of trip lever 73 will cause a corresponding clockwise rotation of the latch cage 60.

The resilient means, mentioned previously, tending to urge the latch cage 60 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2) toward a latched position includes a tension spring 85, one end of which is attached to an eye 82 on the latch plate extension 80, and the opposite end of which is fastened to a chain 86 held by bracket 83 to the front stabilizing bar 50 near the toggle hinge pin 46. The chain bracket 83 is provided with a key-hole slot 84 into which the chain 86 fits. The length of chain 82 fastening the one end of spring can be selectively varied to provide a desired loading on latch cage 60 by spring 85.

A pulley 87 constituting a bearing means is associated and movable with the rear gang frame 14. More particularly, the pulley 87 is rotatively mounted by shaft 90 to the rear stabilizing bar 42, the pulley 87 being located between the pivot pin 55 for angle bar 54 and pivot 39 at the rear end of stabilizing bar 42. A housing 91 is located partially about the pulley 87 and is mounted on the same shaft 90.

A cable 92 has one end fastened to the strap eye 75 of the trip lever 73, and is passed rearwardly about the pulley 87, and thence is extended forwardly of the harrow to a suitable manipulating mechanism such as a power winch on the tractor (not shown). Exerting a forward pull on the cable 92 causes a clockwise rotation of trip lever 73 and a resultant clockwise rotation of latch bar 60 against the loading of spring 85, so as to release the latch pin 57 from the latch cage 60. Upon continued pulling of the cable 92, the interconnection of the cable 92 with the front and rear gang frames 12 and 14 as provided by triplever 73 and pulley 87 respectively, causes the gang frames 12 and 14 to move from the divergent position shown in FIG. 2 to the folded parallel position shown in FIG. 1.

It is thought that the operation and functional advantages of the offset disc harrow have become fully apparent from the foregoing detailed description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure the usage of the cable control will be briefly described. It will be assumed that the gang frames 12 and 14 are initially in the folded, parallel position shown in FIG. 1 in which the latch cage 60 is locked to the latch pin 56.

To expand the harrow for operation, the latch cage 60 is manually rotated to release the latch pin 56, and the tractor (not shown) hitched to the hitch arm 34 moves forwardly. As the tractor moves forwardly, there is a tendency of the rear gang frame 14 to remain stationary, thereby causing the front gang frame 12 to swing away from the rear gang frame 14. As the toggle 41 expands, the angle bar 54 will slide in the latch cage 60' between the guide pins 63 and 64. After the latch cage 60 has been released from the latch pin 66, the latch cage 60 is manually dis-engaged so that the spring 85 returns the cage 60 to its original angular position.

The latch pin 57 has been fixed in a pre-selected bar hole 58 to determine the extent of angular expansion of the gang frames 12 and 14. As the angle bar 54 slides through the latch cage 60, the latch pin 57 engages the front cams 67 and rotates the latch cage 60 clockwise sufficient to allow entry of the latch pin 57 into the recesses 66. Immediately, the spring 85 snaps the latch cage '60 about the latch pin 57 to prevent any further expansion, the latch cage 60 locking the gang frames 12 and 14 in the divergent position illustrated in FIG. 2.

To fold the gang frames 12 and 14 from the divergent position of FIG. 2 to the parallel position of FIG. 1, a pull is exerted forwardly on the cable 92 through the tractors power winch (not shown). Upon exertion on this pull of cable 92, the cable 92 rotates the trip lever 73 in a clockwise direction, and the trip lever 73 acting through link 76 causes a corresponding clockwise rotation of the latch cage 60 to release the latch pin 57. Upon continued pulling of cable 92, the frames 12 and 14 are drawn together until the frames are located in the folded, parallel position of FIG. 1 in which the bumpers 47 and 53 engage. At that time, the cable 92 is slacked so that the latch cage 60 is rotated under the loading of spring 85 to snap around the latch pin 56 to lock the gang frames 12 and 14 in this parallel position, the latch pin 56 being located in the latch recesses 70.

This cable control provides a desirable safety feature in that when the gang frames 12 and 14 are in the expanded divergent position and locked in place by the interengagement of latch cage 60 with latch pin 57, any force applied to the cable 92 by the power winch will first cause operative disengagement of the latch cage 60 and latch pin 57. If this releasing and unlatching action did not occur first, the cable might break or severe damage might occur to the latching mechanism.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense.

I claim is my invention:

1. In an offset disc harrow:

(a) a front gang frame,

(b) a rear gang frame,

(c) means pivotally connecting one end of the frames,

(d) a toggle including a pair of toggle bars, interconnecting the other end of the frame to permit se lective movement of the frames between substantially parallel and divergent positions, each toggle bar being adjacent to one of said gang frames, and pivoted thereto, the front gang frame and adjacent toggle bar providing a front linkage unit, the rear gang frame and adjacent toggle bar providing a rear linkage unit,

(e) an angle bar attached to one of said units,

(f) a latch means attached to the other of said units, the latch means being selectively attachable to the angle bar to hold the frames in the divergent position, and

(g) a cable operatively connected to the latch means for unlatching the latch means and folding the frames from the divergent position to the substantially parallel position upon pulling the cable in one direction.

2. In a offset disc harrow:

(a) a front gang frame,

(b) a rear gang frame,

(c) means pivotally connecting one end of the frames,

((1) a toggle including a pair of toggle bars interconnecting the other end of the frames to permit selective movement of the frames between divergent and substantially parallel positions, each toggle bar being adjacent to one of said gang frames, the front gang frame and adjacent toggle bar providing a front linkage unit, the rear gang frame and adjacent toggle bar providing a rear linkage unit,

(e) an angle bar attached to the rear unit,

(f) a latch means attached to the front unit, the lat-ch means selectively attachable to the angle bar to hold the frames in the divergent position,

(g) a bearing means attached to the rear unit, and

(h) a cable operatively connected to the latch means,

passed around the bearing means and extended forwardly, the cable unlatching the latch means and folding the frames from the divergent position to the substantially parallel position upon pulling the cable forwardly.

3. In an offset disc harrow:

(a) a front gang frame,

(b) a rear gang frame,

(c) means pivotally connecting one end of the frames,

(d) a toggle including a pair of toggle bars interconnecting the other end of the frames to permit selective movement of the frames between substantially parallel and divergent positions, each toggle bar being adjacent to one of said gang frames, the front gang frame and adjacent toggle bar providing a front linkage unit, the rear gang frame and adjacent toggle bar providing a rear linkage unit,

(e) an angle bar attached to the rear unit,

(f) a latch means attached to the front unit, the latch means slidably receiving and guiding the angle bar, and selectively attachable to the angle bar to hold the frames in the divergent position,

(g) a trip lever connected to the latch means,

(h) a bearing means attached to the rear unit, and

(i) a cable attached to the trip lever, passed rearwardly about the bearing means and hence extended forwardly of the harrow, the cable unlatching the latch means and folding the frames from the divergent position to the substantially parallel position upon pulling the cable forwardly.

4. In an offset disc harrow:

(a) a front gang frame,

(b) a rear gang frame,

(c) means pivotally connecting one end of the frames,

(d) a toggle interconnecting the other end of the frames to move the frames between substantially parallel and divergent positions,

(e) the toggle including a rear stabilizing bar pivoted to the rear gang frame, and a front stabilizing bar pivoted to the front gang frame, the stabilizing bars being pivotally connected,

(f) an angle bar attached to one stabilizing bar,

(g) latch means carried by the other stabilizing bar, and selectively attachable to the angle bar to hold the frames in a divergent position, and

(h) a cable; operatively connected to the latch means for unlatching the latch means and folding the frames from the divergent position to the substantially parallel position upon pulling the cable in one direction.

5. In an offset disc harrow:

(a) a front gang frame,

(b) a rear gang frame,

(c) means pivotally connecting one end of the frame,

(d) a toggle interconnecting the other end of the frames to move the frames between substantially parallel and divergent positions,

(e) the toggle including a rear stabilizing bar pivoted to the rear gang frame, and a front stabilizing bar pivoted to the front gang frames, the stabilizing bars being pivotally connected,

(f) an angle bar pivotally attached to the rear stabilizing bar and extending forwardly,

g) a latch cage pivotally mounted to the front stabilizing bar and attachable to the angle bar in the divergent position of the frame, and

(h) means including a cable operatively connected to the latch cage for releasing the latch cage and folding the frames to the parallel position upon pulling the cable forwardly.

6. An offset disc harrow as defined in claim 5, in which:

(i) the angle bar includes a latch pin selectively movable to different locations,

(j) the latch cage includes a recess and a cam engaging the latch pin to pivot the latch cage to permit entry of the pin into the recess whereby the frames are held in a predetermined divergent position, and

(k) resilient means tends to urge the latch cage to a latched position.

7. An offset disc harrow as defined in claim 6, in which:

(1) a second latch pin is attachable to the angle bar,

and

(m) the latch cage includes a second recess receiving the second latch pin to hold the frames in the substantially parallel position.

8. An offset disc harrow as defined in claim 5, in which:

(i) the latch cage includes laterally spaced guide means between which the angle bar slidably extends and engages to hold the angle bar and latch cage in operative association.

9. In an offset disc harrow:

(a) a front gang frame,

(b) a rear gang frame,

(c) means pivotally connecting one end of the frames,

(d) a toggle interconnecting the other end of the frames to move the frames between substantially parallel and divergent positions,

(e) the toggle including a rear stabilizing bar pivoted to the rear gang frame, and a front stabilizing bar pivoted to the front gang frame, the stabilizing bars being pivotally connected,

(if) an angle bar pivotally attached to the rear stabilizing bar and extending forwardly,

(g) a latch cage pivotally mounted to the front stabilizing bar, the latch cage including laterally spaced guide means between which the angle bar slidably extends and engages to maintain the angle bar and latch cage in operative association,

(h) a first latch pin selectively attachable to different locations on the angle bar,

(i) the latch cage including a first recess and a first earn engaging the first latch pin to pivot the latch cage to permit entry of the first latch pin into the first recess 8 to hold the frames in a predetermined divergent position,

(j) a second latch pin attachable to the angle bar,

(k) the latch cage including a second recess receiving the second pin to hold the frames in the parallel position,

(1) resilient means tending to urge the latch cage to its latched position, and

(in) means including a cable operatively connected to latch cage for releasing the latch cage and folding the frames from the divergent position to the substantially parallel position upon pulling the cable in one direction.

10. In an offset disc harrow:

(a) a front gang frame,

(b) a rear gang frame,

(c) means pivotally connecting one end of the frames,

(d) a toggle interconnecting the other end of the frames to move the frames between substantially parallel and divergent positions,

(e) the toggle including a rear stabilizing bar pivoted to the rear gang frame, and a front stabilizing bar pivoted to the front gang frame, the stabilizing bars being pivotally connected, the rear frame and rear bar providing a rear linkage unit and the front frame and front bar providing a front linkage unit,

(if) an angle bar pivotally attached to the rear stabilizing bar and extending forwardly,

(g) a latch cage pivotally mounted to the front stabiliz ing bar, the latch cage including means attachable to the angle bar in the divergent position of the frames,

(h) a bearing means attached to the rear unit,

(i) a latch-releasing means operatively connected to the latch cage, and

(j) a cable attached to the latch-releasing means, passed rearwardly about the bearing means, and extended forwardly of the harrow, the cable releasing the latch cage and folding the frames to the substantially parallel position upon pulling the cable forwardly.

11. An offset disc harrow as defined in claim 10, in

which (k) the bearing means is a pulley mounted to the rear stabilizing bar,

(1) the latch-releasing means includes a trip lever pivotally mounted to the front stabilizing bar, and means interconnecting the trip lever and latch cage, and

(m) the cable is attached to the trip lever, passed rearwardly about the pulley, thence forwardly of the harrow.

12. An offset disc harrow as defined in claim 11, in

which:

(n) the latch cage includes laterally spaced guide means which (r) a second latch pin is attachable to the angle bar,

and

(s) the latch cage includes a second recess receiving the second latch pin to hold the frames in the substantially parallel position.

14. In an offset disc harrow:

(a) a front gang frame,

(b) a rear gang frame,

(0) means pivotally connecting one end of the frames,

(d) a toggle interconnecting the other end of the frames to move the frames between substantially parallel and divergent positions,

(e) the toggle including a rear stabilizing bar pivoted to the rear gang frame, and a front stabilizing bar pivoted to the front gang frame, the stabilizing bars 16. In an offset disc harrow:

(a) a front gang frame,

(b) a rear gang frame,

() means pivotally connecting one end of the frames, (d) the toggle interconnecting the other end of the being pivotally connected, frames to move the frame between substantially paral- (f) an angle bar pivotally attached to the rear stabilizlel and divergent positions,

ing bar and extending forwardly, (e) the toggle including a rear stabilizing bar pivoted (g) a latch cage pivotally mounted to the front stabilizto the rear gang frame, and a front stabilizing bar ing bar, the latch cage including spaced plates interpivoted to the front gang frame, the stabllizlng bars connected by laterally spaced guide means, being pivotally connected,

(h) the angle bar extending between the plates and (f) an angle bar pivotally attached to the rear stabilizguide means to hold the latch cage and angle bar in ing b r and extending forwardly, v operable association, (g) a latch cage pivotally mounted to the front stabiliz- (i) the latch cage including a hook attachable to the ing bar, the latch cage including laterally spaced angle bar in the divergent position, guide means between which the angle bar slidably (j) resilient means tending to hold the latch cage in the t ds a d engages to hold the latch cage a d angle latched position, and bar in operative association,

(k) means including a cable operatively connected to fi latch P Selectively attachable t0 diflefeflt the latch cage for releasing the hook from the angle Posltlehs 011 the ahgle bar and for folding the frames to the substantially the latch Cage lhehldlng a first recess and a fi parallel position upon pulling the cable forwardly. Cam engaging the first latch P Pivot the latch 15, In an ff t di na cage to permit entry of the first latch pin into the (a) a front gang frame, recess to hold the frames in the predetermined diver- (b) a rear gang frame, gent positlon,

(c) means pivotally connecting one end of the frames,

((1) a toggle interconnecting the other end of the frames, to move the frames between substantially parallel and divergent positions,

(e) the toggle including a rear stabilizing bar pivoted U to the rear gang frame, and a front stabilizing bar pivoted to the front gang frame, the stabilizing bars being pivotally connected, the rear frame and rear bar providing a rear linkage unit and the front frame and front bar providing a front linkage unit,

(f) an angle bar pivotally attached to the rear stabilizing bar and extending forwardly,

(g) a latch cage pivotally mounted to the front stabilizing bar, the latch cage including means attachable (j) a second latch pin attachable to the angle bar,

(k) the latch cage including a second recess receiving the second latch pin to hold the frames in the substantially parallel position,

(1) a pulley mounted to the rear stabilizing bar,

(m) a trip lever pivotally mounted to the front stabilizing bar,

(11) a link interconnecting the trip lever and latch cage,

and

(o) a cable attached to the trip lever, passed rearwardly about the pulley and extended forwardly of the harrow, the cable pivoting the latch cage to remove the first pin from the first recess and release the angle bar, and folding the frames to the substantially parallel position upon pulling the cable forwardly.

to the angle bar in the divergent position, 40 (h) a bearing means attached to the rear unit, References Cited (fling lever pivotally mounted to the front stabillz- UNITED STATES PATENTS (j) means interconnecting the trip lever and latch cage, 2,221,461 11/1940 Slogren 172 590 and 2,334,455 11/1943 Thomas 172-320 (k) a cable attached to the trip lever and passed rear- 2879856 3/1959 Wenzel 172 597 wardly about the bearing means and extended forwardly of the harrow, the cable releasing the latch cage from the angle bar and folding the frames to the substantially parallel position upon pulling the cable forwardly.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

STEPHEN C. PELLEGRINO, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

